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 Justin Taylan 2006 |
Location Lat 4° 20' 60S Long 152° 16' 60E Vunapope is located on the north coast of the Gazelle Peninsula on New Britain. Also spelled "Wunapope". Borders Blanche Bay to the north. To the east is Takubar and to the west is Kokopo. Borders Simpson Harbor to the north and beyond Rabaul. Between 1884 until September 1914 part of Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the New Britain District in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prewar Vunapope Roman Catholic Mission was established at this location. Wartime History During late January 1942, occupied by the Japanese. During the Pacific War, the dock area was used to unload ships and barges. The Vunapope Roman Catholic Mission became a concentration camp guarded by the Japanese Army Kempeitai (Military Police) detained missionaries and civilians captured in the area. During 1944, attacked by Allied bombers and fighters. Occupied by the Japanese until the official surrender of Japan in September 1945. American missions against Vunapope February 11, 1944–June 25, 1944 Vunapope Roman Catholic Mission Prewar Vunapope Roman Catholic Mission was established on the on the hilltop at Vunapope. During the war, civilian missionaries were detained at the mission in a concentration camp guarded by Japanese Army Kempeitai (Military Police) where Catholics, Lutherans and other religious people were grouped, including local followers and half-castes, numbering about 300 people. During the heavy bombing of February - March, the guards fled, but returned on March 30, 1944. On May 12, 1944 the prisoners were relocated inland to the Ramale Valley due to heavy Allied bombing of the area. Lock Katrine Sunk around 1937 wreckage remains today F4U-1D Corsair NZ5429 Pilot Thorburn crashed December 24, 1944 References Prisoner's Base and Home Again describes captivity at the mission between 1943 to until May 1944 Contribute
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